Military

Service members support Arctic Care in rural Alaska

by Maj. Guy Hayes
Department of Military and Veteran Affairs

4/27/2011 - EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (AFNS) -- The Alaska National Guard is joining forces with active-duty and Reserve units across the nation to provide support for Operation Arctic Care April 15 through 30.

Led this year by deployment support officials from the Army Reserve's 807th Medical Command, Arctic Care is an annual two-week mission where more than 300 government and military medical professionals join specialists from across the nation to provide treatment at remote villages across Alaska.

This year's operation marks the 17th year in which medical teams have deployed throughout Alaska to treat general health patients and provide dental care, eye exams and veterinary care. Medical professionals provide care to native Alaskans, who do not have access to routine health care as they are in remote villages such as Galena, Northway and Anaktuvuk Pass.

With most villages accessible only by airplane or helicopter, the teams and supplies are airlifted by Alaska National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, as well as C-23 Sherpas and C-130 Hercules aircraft.

The operation provides health care to some of the U.S.'s most remote citizens and has become the largest recurring joint military medical and logistics training exercise of its kind, providing real-world humanitarian assistance and medical care.

"Arctic Care is a phenomenal operation that synchronizes support between multiple agencies while providing excellent support to rural Alaska," said Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Katkus, the adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard.

Austere weather conditions are also a challenge in getting flights into villages, but that's part of the mission, which is intended to simulate military/civilian medical outreach operations in time of crisis, conflict or disaster, officials said.

"It's an excellent opportunity to train, while providing real-world support here at home," General Katkus said. "This training is critical for our Guard and Reserve members so they are prepared for emergencies here in Alaska and deployments around the world."

Operation Arctic Care is sponsored by the Innovative Readiness Training program under the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. The Alaska National Guard will be the lead agency for Arctic Care 2012.